Top 20 Most Hilarious Parks and Recreation Moments

“Rock Show”
Andy's dreams of becoming a famous musician have reaped some unfortunate – if hilarious – results. He and his fellow players named their band Scarecrow Boat, and had hopes of making it outside of Pawnee. In the show proper, they changed it (back) to Mouse Rat but that was far from the only switch up they had in their history. Some of their most hilarious monikers include God Hates Figs, Everything Rhymes with Orange, Puppy Pendulum, Nothing Rhymes with Orange, and Death of a Scam Artist. Andy also tried to have the band carry his name with titles such as the Andy And Andies and Andy Dwyer Experience. No group needs to go through this many names, but hearing the laundry list of options sure is hysterical.

“Bailout”
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein may be the best worst character on the show depending on your point of view, with iconic one-liners that have made Internet history. As it turns out, so is his twin sister. We first meet Mona-Lisa when she’s hired by Tom Haverford as an assistant. She proves to be a bad hire as she slacks off tremendously, leaving us in stitches. When Tom plucks up the courage to speak up, she’s into it and the two begin an unlikely relationship. Like her brother, however, her foibles are a source of comic genius. Remember when she and Jean-Ralphio launch into an improvised "Don't Be Suspicious" song when the latter fakes his death? What would the Internet do without you, Mona-Lisa?

“Ann’s Decision”
There never was a tale of more hysterical woe. Ben Wyatt's obsession with calzones is practically unparalleled, and we’re sure they’ve had many lovely moments together over the years. But like many tragic love stories, theirs ends in blood, sweat, and, well, indigestion. When he finds a wedding caterer that serves mini calzones, it seems like a dream come true. But the higher you rise, the farther you have to fall. And sure enough, he, Chris, and Ron get food poisoning after consuming them. Only Tom is spared, having chosen not to partake. The whole segment is painful – you can practically sense their suffering – leaving us chuckling through tears. We feel for them, but it’s too funny to ignore.

“I’m Leslie Knope”
Ron Swanson is a man of sense, order, and foresight. He is prepared for any and all kinds of disasters. So when he finds out that his ex-wife Tammy (the first one, not the second one), has returned, he wastes no time. He pulls Leslie aside, informing her that he’s going to use all his accrued 228 personal days to solve this problem. He’s not messing around, which makes it all the more humorous. This isn't the last time Ron has trouble with women named Tammy, either. Let’s not forget he and Tammy 2 end up in jail. There’s also the drinking contest involving his mom. One thing is for sure, if Ron and Tammys are involved, it’s sure to be a chaotic, entertaining time.

“Bus Tour”
Here’s a bit that’s so amusing it’s become a meme. Clearly, Andy's inventiveness with names extends beyond simple band names. A few days after a pie is thrown Leslie’s way, Andy – as Burt Macklin – is on the job protecting the city council candidate. Part of his investigation, for some inexplicable but hilarious reason, involves giving the gang code names. These names, however, are not what you'd call appropriate – though Andy seems oblivious to that fact as ever. Let's just say Ben is justifiably relieved to be called Eagle 2. Leslie's code name, though? [“I'd be lying if I said 'I hadn't thought about it.”] Clearly, Andy takes honesty to a whole new level. It’s priceless.

“Pawnee Zoo”
Love is love, and no one comes to know that better than Leslie Knope. When promoting the Pawnee Zoo, she accidentally mistakes two male penguins for a male-female pair and officiates their ceremony. Overnight, Leslie wins the approval of Pawnee's queer community. Unfortunately, anti-LGBTQIA+ organizations are less than approving. Eventually, she gets sick of the homophobia and stands by the nuptials. She even ends up driving the penguins to a zoo in Iowa, where gay marriage is legal. The core social premise here isn’t anything to laugh at, but the penguin-plot of it all amps up the comedy. Indeed, it’s so nonsensical and absurd, you can’t help but giggle. Hey, we love an ally, even an accidental one.

“The Fight”
Andy and April make for the most entertaining power couple. Granted, they come up with these playful personas individually at different points earlier in the series. But it isn't until "The Fight" where they truly come to marvelous life together. April's Janet Snakehole is a very rich, very fancy woman – but she isn’t innocent in this life. Andy's Burt Macklin, meanwhile, who was an FBI agent framed for Presidential ruby theft. To say they commit to the bit is an understatement – honestly, we forget these are alter egos and not real people! If all the world's a stage, Andy and April make for the most hilarious (role)players.

“Andy and April’s Fancy Party”
We’ve already discussed how Ron Swanson is a man's man who means business. He also gives his co-workers valuable lessons - namely, showing them they can’t mess with him, often in ways that have us gasping for air. During a meeting, he notes that his tooth is hurting him. But come on, he doesn’t like dentists, so why would he trust one to fix it? Instead, he decides to pull it out himself. His swift dispatch causes Tom to faint and many of his colleagues to flee in disgust – relatable. Of course, the real gag is that Ron only pretended to pull his tooth out – it's the lesson that counts! Never has a man’s display of fortitude been more uproarious.

“The Comeback Kid”
Ben's unemployment stint leads him down some dark, but ultimately hilarious paths. In a spiral, he turns to claymation. Though Chris may be worried, Ben is adamant that he is not depressed. His frenzied expression trying to convince us he’s okay while showing off his little clay dude is something you have to see to believe. He eventually gets a serious reality check when he realizes how short the project – “Requiem for a Tuesday” – actually is, but we digress. Ben’s creative side knows no bounds, as just two seasons later he comes up with "The Cones of Dunshire" game. This endeavor ends up being more fruitful, but the claymation moment lives in our heads rent-free, and somewhat ironically, it cheers us up daily.

“Emergency Response”
Is there anything our man Ron can't do? When Leslie is unable to be on “Pawnee Today” to promote a fundraiser, he volunteers to fill in for her. He can, after all, speak in full sentences and not cry. Since host Joan becomes rather indisposed, Mr. Swanson once again saves the day with his no-nonsense straight talk and ineffable Ron-ness. The ensuing show, "You're on with Ron," proves he could and would make the most hilarious host in another life. He takes people's calls, gives honest advice, and above all, promotes the Gala. It’s impossible for us to keep a straight face as it unfolds, especially because of his deadpan style. What a trooper.

“Flu Season”
How can something as simple and seemingly not funny as the flu lead to such comic hilarity? Although Leslie gets the flu, this doesn't stop her from trying to perform her duties. With her so insistent on working, Andy tries to look up her symptoms – and his conclusion is unbeatable. We still burst out laughing whenever we see the scene. It turns out that Chris Pratt improvised this line, which makes it all the more impressive. It’s nothing fancy, just pure, unfiltered comedic gold, and exactly the kind of ridiculous thing Andy would say. We’re thrilled it was left in the final product.

“The Fight”
This iconic cold open has become a beloved and oft-referenced “Parks and Rec” staple, and for good reason. It features another one of Ron's "lessons." He begins by asking his co-workers who broke the coffee machine. As Leslie tries to say it was her and others shift blame, the scene dissolves into chaos. It’s all, however, going according to Ron's maniacal but hysterical plan. You see, he was the one who broke it, and jumped at the chance to throw a wrench in the office camaraderie. We’re dead. The case of the coffee machine showcases everyone's comic talents and personalities, and we achieve maximum hilarity.

“Soulmates”
If Tom Haverford’s personality were boiled down to one word, it would be eccentric. Pessimists see the glass as half empty, optimists see it as half full, and Tom just wonders why it contains boring old water instead of Super Water. These bursts of eccentricity are not uncommon for Tom, but here we’re given a special treat with a long cut of goofy names he gives food. The glow in his eyes as he informs the audience of each quote-unquote brilliant nickname is utterly priceless. It’s a brilliant display of comedy, making us giggle at every turn.

“Sex Education”
“Parks and Recreation” knows how to be sentimental one moment, and dive into the finer points of intercourse for elderly folk the next. As this scene makes evident, senior citizen intimacy is a very real thing. Apparently one of the writers decided this phenomenon was a great niche topic to exploit during the Sex Education episode of the series. We’re sorry for anyone who made the mistake of watching this episode with their parents. But for everyone else, the moment was a hilarious treat that for better or for worse became forevermore ingrained in our minds.

“Li’l Sebastian”
As we’ve established, Tom Haverford has a tendency towards eccentricity, and his business venture/complete disaster with Jean-Ralphio perfectly exemplifies this. Their tour reads like a Dos Equis commercial, except instead of listing off crazy stories from their past, the duo lists off ridiculous activities that Entertainment 720 would help accomplish in the future. Only one reasonable question is asked during the entire tour: “Shouldn’t you focus on building your client base?” and it’s answered with a simple NO. Tom’s flare would eventually work for him, but in this instance it’s unrealistic, unfocused, and ultimately, highly amusing.

“Article Two”
What would a show about government be without a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-esque filibuster scene? Garth Blundin, played by Patton Oswalt, doesn’t see eye to eye with Leslie regarding some outdated Pawnee laws, and he takes to the City Forum to stand up for what he believes in. Given Oswalt’s self-proclaimed obsession with “Star Wars,” he was given free rein to describe his vision for Episode 7 in the nearly nine-minute filibuster scene—which we highly recommend viewing uncut. Living in a post-Episode 7 world, it looks like his vision wasn’t entirely accurate, but fans of both “Star Wars” and “Parks and Rec” have much to enjoy in this impressive rant. We’re still not sure how the extras behind Garth aren’t in stitches.

“Leslie vs. April”
Girls growing up in the ‘80s may have idolized the likes of David Hasselhoff or Harrison Ford; but not Leslie. Her heroes, and at times erotic fantasies, are far more likely to take place on Capitol Hill than the Hollywood Hills. And one silver-haired fox has stood out above the rest to Ms. Knope as the gold standard for men. Thanks to her dutiful husband, Leslie gets a brief chance to interact with Joe Biden, and viewers get the opportunity to laugh at her bewilderment. She speaks just slightly too loudly and answers just a little too quickly when spoken to, and several seasons of built-up love for Joe pay off in this one hilarious scene.

“Pawnee Rangers”
With what is debatably the most quoted adage of the entire series, we’re shown that The Good Life should be accessible to everyone… at least for one day a year. Donna and Tom have Chamillionaire tastes on a Costco budget, but for 24 hours this does not matter to them. The prop pieces and outfits brought in for this gag are uproarious and over the top hilarious. It’s difficult not to feel the characters’ glee as they indulge themselves again and again and again. Culminating in Ben Wyatt crying in a crime fighting costume, this episode is, in and of itself, its own special treat.

“The Fight”
Snake Juice is another Tom Haverford/Jean-Ralphio exclusive, guaranteed to taste great and ensure an even better night. It’s often hilarious to see friends you’ve known for quite some time get hammered in a social setting, and here we get to see these onscreen comrades get wasted on what’s basically rat poison. Sadly, we weren’t given a Drunk Donna clip, but the others are hysterical and so on point. In particular, Ron Swanson is at his most memorable whenever he does something that’s highly un-Swanson. Tom, the yin to his yang, helps extract this, allowing us to enjoy the hysteria of the evening while skipping out on the morning after.

“The Comeback Kid”
The art of the cringe has been mastered in recent years; particularly by TV mockumentaries. Creativity is key when it comes to anything, and that’s proven when a Campaign Rally, an Ice Rink, and a luxurious red carpet that’s just a little too short come together to create one of the funniest scenes in “Parks and Rec” history. For two minutes, we’re barraged with prop pieces, adding to the awkwardness. The three-legged dog, the ironic background music, the stage that’s erected far too high—nothing goes horribly wrong, but nothing goes right either. Awkward humor doesn’t get much better than this, and it’s hard not to feel sorry for these fictional characters who just can’t catch a break – between the gales of laughter, that is.